Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur target Youcef Atal has insisted he is happy at French Ligue 1 club Nice and is planning to return following the Africa Cup of Nations.
Atal has caught the eye with his performances under Patrick Vieira at Nice this season and has a host of top clubs showing interest in his services.
Vieira is firmly opposed to the defender's departure, but Nice could be tested with offers when the summer transfer window opens.
Atal has a further chance to enhance his reputation over the course of the summer, with the full-back expected to turn out for Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Algeria have been drawn in Group C in the Africa Cup of Nations, along with Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania.
But Atal is not desperate to leave Nice and is at present planning to return to the French side following the tournament.
"After the Africa Cup of Nations, I return to Nice", he was quoted as saying by Algerian magazine Le Buteur.
"The fans like me here and it makes me really happy. Me too, I love them."
And Atal insists that he is now focused on ending the campaign well with Nice.
"We have not finished the season yet.
"We must still work and give everything to regret nothing in the end."
The Algerian, an attack minded full-back, has on occasion been played in midfield and as a winger by Vieira in the current campaign.
